Suction nozzle with valve for concentrating air flow at the end thereof



June 5, 1951 G E LOFGREN 2,555,979

SUCTION NOZZLE WITH VALVE FOR CONCENTRATING AIR FLOW AT THE END THEREOF Filed Dec. 50, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 mill June 5, 1951 G. E. LOFGREN 2,555,979

SUCTION NOZZLE WITH VALVE FOR CONCENTRATING AIR FLOW AT THE END THEREOF Filed Dec. 50, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented June 5, 1951 SUCTION NOZZLE WITH VALVE FOR CON- CENTRATING AIR FLOW AT THE END THEREOF Gustaf E. Lofgren, Riverside,

Electrolux Corporation, a corporation of, Delaware Application December 30, 1944, Serial No.570,677

Claims.

This invention relates to nozzles for suction cleaners and is particularly concerned with nozzles for the cleaning of upholstery or the like.

Because of the typical deep pile fabric conventionally used in upholstery, it is desirable to provide a suction cleaning nozzle which concentrates the suction action to a small area thus providing for a high velocity flow of air at such area. This has usually been accomplished by providing a nozzle with a narrow suction opening of a length substantially less than is conventionally employed for suction nozzles used for more general purposes such as floor and rug cleaning. While such nozzles have been successfully used for some time for upholsterycleaning, it has been found desirable to optionally provide for an even smaller opening having an even greater air velocity. With such increased velocity the cleaning action is concentrated and the tool is particularly efiicient in cleaning deep crevices formed by tufts or like stitchings.

It has also been found desirable to provide means for manipulating the nozzle and this is accomplished by the provision of a suction elbow. By pivotally mounting the suction elbow with respect to the nozzle body the elbow may be conveniently used as a selectively positioned operating handle. Preferably the outer end of the elbow will be at right angles to the axis of the suction opening for normal cleaning while the elbow will be parallel to the longitudinal axis of the opening and oppositely extending from the end into which intense suction is applied when such suction is desired. In the latter position the elbow provides for the action of the nozzle in the manner of a pointed tool, the handle of which extends away from the point at which the predominate cleaning action occurs.

The present invention seeks to provide for this increased concentration of suction in a nozzle which may also serve when desired in the conventional manner of the present type of upholstery cleaner. It is, therefore, among the prime objects of the present invention to provide a new and improved suction nozzle particularly suited to the cleaning of upholstery.

A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning nozzle, the effective suction opening for which may be diminished in size so as to provide increased air velocity therethrough.

. It is a further object of the invention to provide a suction cleaning nozzle having a suction opening with terminal ends to which air flow may be concentrated for cleaning the depths of crevices and like confined spaces,

Conn., assignor to Old Greenwich, Comm,

A further object of the invention is to provide a cleaning nozzle having a suction opening with means for selectively blocking the admission of suction to certain portions thereof, so as to concentrate the air flow through other portions.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a suction nozzle having a suction opening one end of which may be blocked off from suction so as to concentrate the flow of air through the opposite end thereof.

It is also among the objects of the invention to provide a nozzle with a manipulating means pivotally arranged with respect thereto so as'to accommodate itself to various types of operation for which the nozzle is designed.

More specifically, it is among the objects of the invention to provide a nozzle with a pivotally mounted suction elbow which is designed for use as the manipulating handle of the nozzle and which may be turned in parallelism with the suction opening in order to facilitate manipula tion when substantially all the suction is applied to only one end of the nozzle opening.

The objects of the present invention are attained by the provision of a suction nozzle having a relatively thin and tapered body with a suction opening together with means to selectively control the suction applied thereto so that it may be directed either to only one end of the opening or to the entire length of the opening so that the nozzle may be used in conventional manner or the suction may be concentrated to provide an extremely rapid air flow through a restricted portion of the opening. The inventive concept further embodies the provision of a manipulating means preferably in the form of a suction elbow which is pivotally mounted so as to be moved to a position parallel with the axis of the opening and extending rearwardly from the point of concentrated suction so that the tool may be used to facilitate penetration of the tool into the folds and crevices of tufted upholstery. In certain forms of the invention, manipulation of the elbow is in itself the means controlling the concentration of suction to the end desired.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a nozzle formed in accordance with the present invention;

, Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of that form of a nozzle of the present invention shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 2A is a top plan view of a bridge member of the nozzle of Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 3 is a, vertical transverse section of the nozzle shown in Figs. 1 and 2;

Fig. 3A is a bottom plan view partly broken away of the nozzle of Figs. 1, 2, and 3;

Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of another embodiment of the present invention;

Fig. 5 is a transverse vertical section of that form of the invention shown in Fig. 4; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary detailed view of the slide of the nozzle of Figs. land 5. g V V Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that all of the forms of the present invention contemplate the provision of an elongated hollow nozzle body l having lips disposed substantially in a single plane and bounding the suction opening of the nozzle. A suction elbow I I is mounted for pivotal movement with respect to the body III, the swivel being on an axis normal to the plane of the suction opening. Various means may be employed for mounting the elbow for swiveling movement with respect to the body I0, several such means being illustrated and it will be understood that the means disclosed with respect to "Figs. 1 to 3 may be employed in that form of the invention shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, and vice versa, and if it is desired the latching means may be omitted. By so arranging the elbow I I it may conveniently be used as the manipulating means 'for the nozzle as hereinbefore suggested and when the entire suction area is in full effective use the outer end of the elbow will preferably be disposed at right angles to the body but when the flow of suction is concentrated so that substantially all of said flow is through only one end of the nozzle opening the elbow will be swung to 'a position parallel to the axis of the opening and inclined away from the point at which the succally to the entire suction opening or to one end only thereof. Thus it will be seen that the nozzle provides oppositely extending right and left hand ends l2 and I3 to either of which the suction may be directed exclusively when it is desired to use the selected end to prod into and clean crevices .and folds in tufted upholstery or the like.

In that form of the invention shown in Figs. 1

.to 3 inclusive, the elbow I I is secured in a selected angular relation to the body H! by a spring pressed pawl I4 pivotally mounted on the elbow -II by a pin I carried by a boss It, a spring I1 normally urging the end of the pawl into engagement with one of the recesses I8 of the body It. Within the body III the end of the elbow II is provided with a valve forming plate 20 constituting an extending segment of the wall of the elbow.

Mounted within the body I0 is a closure memher for the central portion of the suction opening. This member includes a transverse bridge 2| spanning the side walls of. the body and termmating short of the inner faces of the body ends, thus forming thereabove an air passage extending from the elbow mouth to each end of the body. The upper face of the bridge '2I is provided with brackets 22 which in combination with a shoulder 23 on the side walls of the body constitute a receiving channel for an outwardly directed flange 24 formed on the plate 20. The reception of the flange 24 in the channel thus member.

4 The lower face of the bridge 2| is provided with a central depending web 25 terminating in a member 26, the lower surface of which lies in the plane of the edges of the body III and constitutes the major portion of the lower surface of the closure As shown particularly in Fig. 3, the width of member 26 is less than that of the nozzle opening, whereby the lengthwise extending edge portions of the closure member are spaced inwardly from the plane of the opening to provide spaces adjacent to the nozzle lips for air flow towards the ends of the nozzle. By this arrangement it will be seen that with suction applied to both ends of the body air passages are formed over the surface member 26 so that suction may be uniformly applied adjacent to the entire edge of the body Ill. 1

As seen in Fig. 2, when it is desired to concentrate the suction in the end I2 the elbow is moved so that its external bent end lies in the plane of the axis of the nozzle opening and the plate 28 thus lies across the air passage between the ends I2 and I3 so that the end I3 is blocked from the suction and all of the incoming air must pass through the end I2 whereby the velocity of the air is increased and the suction cleaning action enhanced. Obviously, if it is desired to provide increased suction for the end I3 only, the elbow may be moved 180 from the position of Fig. 2

so that the plate 223 acquires a, position diametrically opposite that shown'in Fig. 2. It will also be noted that if it is desired to use the nozzle in conventional manner with suction applied equally to both ends the elbow is moved 90 from the position shown in Fig. 2 to that as shown in Fig. 3 so that the plate 28 lies along the wall of the body, whereby the plate 20 is out of the line of the air flow so that full suction is applied to all points of the openings thus providing for use of the device in the conventional manner with uniform suction at all points. It will, of course, be

noted that the elbow is retained in any of its adjusted positions by engagement of its pawl I4 in a selected recess I 8.

Referring now to Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings, it will be seen that the invention may be 7 carried out by the use of a reciprocating plate rather than forming the elbow in valve fashion as in Figs. 1 to 3. In this form of the invention there is mounted for sliding movement over the bridge 2|, a reciprocating valve plate 30 which is guided by the bridge '2I and a shoulder 3I formedwithin the body It. Transversely disposed upon the upper surface of the plate 38 there is provided a grooved member 32, the groove as of which receives the lower end of an actuating pin 34 formed as an extension of the elbow. Thus when the elbow is rotated on its axis normal to the axis of the body opening, the pin will move arcuately to such an extent that the plate will be reciprocated. With the elbow moved to lie in the plane of the axis of the body opening as shown in Fig. 4, the plate will be moved to the extreme left hand position closing the end I3 and admittingsuction to the right hand end I2. Obviously, a movement of the elbow from this position will bring the plate to the opposite extreme position closing the end I2 and admitting suction through the end I3. With the elbow in intermediate position as shown in Fig. 5 the plate 30 is positioned to register with the bridge 2| and suction is admitted through both the ends and the device is operable for use in the conventional manner.

In this form of the invention an alternativeformed secures the elbow in assembled re atiqn, 15 means of retaining the. elbow init adjusted p 51- :1 U tion is disclosed. The elbow in this instance is provided with a terminal end 35 mounted within a boss 3'] formed on the body II], the elbow being secured within the counterbore of the boss 3'! by an escutcheon plate 38. The periphery of the end 36 is provided with spaced depressions 39 which receive a spring urged retaining ball 85, the depressions 39 being spaced 90 apart so that for each position of the elbow one of the depressions 39 will register with the ball 35 to yieldably retain the elbow in its adjusted position.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the present invention provides cleaning nozzles ofv simple construction well suited to economic manufacture and including means by which the nozzles may be readily converted from use in the conventional fashion where suction is uniformly distributed over the entire area of the suction opening to the concentration Of suction at a desired end of the nozzle whereby the air velocity will be increased and cleaning efficiency enhanced. It will, of course, be understood that the various embodiments of the invention here set forth are illustrative and that numerous changes and modifications of the full use of equiv alents may be resorted to in the practice of the invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof as outlined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a suction cleaning nozzle, a body defining an elongated suction opening, a member in said Opening for providing a closure for the central portion of said opening and spaced from the ends of said opening to direct :air flow towards said ends, a suction elbow rotatably mounted on said body for applying suction to the interior thereof, a valve in said body cooperating with said member to selectively apply suction to both of said ends or to block the application of suction to one of said ends, and means for moving said valve with the movement of said elbow.

2. In a suction cleaning nozzle, a body defining an elongated suction opening, a member in said opening for providing a closure for the central portion of said opening and spaced from the i 4 ends of said opening to direct air flow towards said ends, a suction elbow rotatably mounted on said body for applying suction to the interior thereof, a rotatable valve in said body carried by said elbow and cooperating with said member to selectively apply suction to both of said ends or to block the application of suction to one of said ends, and mean for moving said valve with the movement of said elbow.

3. In a suction cleaning nozzle, a body defining an elongated suction opening, a member in said opening for providing a closure for the central portion of said opening and spaced from the ends of said opening to direct air flow towards said ends, a suction elbow rotatably mounted on said body for applying suction to the interior thereof, a slidable valve in said body operable by said 6 elbow and cooperating with said member to selectively apply suction to both of said ends or to block the application of suction to one of said ends, and means for moving said valve with the movements of said elbow.

4. In a suction nozzle, a hollow body having lips disposed substantially in a single plane and defining an elongated suction opening, a member in said opening providing a closure for the central portion of said opening and spaced from the ends of said opening, a major portion of the lower surface of said member being disposed substantially in said plane and a minor lengthwise extending portion thereof being spaced inwardly from the plane of said opening to provide space for air flow towards said ends, means for applying suction to the interior of said body, and valve structure in said body between said means and said ends to selectively apply suction to both of said ends or to interrupt the application of suction to one of said ends, thereby concentrating the suction at the other of said ends.

5. In a suction nozzle, a body having lips disposed substantially in a single plane and defining an elongated suction opening, a member in said opening providing a closure for the central portion of said opening and spaced from the ends of said opening, a major central portion of the lower surface of said member being disposed substantially in said plane and the edge portions of said surface being spaced inwardly from said plane to provide spaces adjacent to said lips for air flow towards said ends, means for applying suction to the interior of said body, and valve structure in said body between said means and said ends to selectively apply suction to both of said ends or to interrupt the application of suction to one of said ends, thereby concentrating the suction at the other of said ends.

GUSTAF E. LOFGREN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 1st addition of 706,716 

